Memory cards having two standard sets of contacts

ABSTRACT

Enclosed re-programmable non-volatile memory cards include at least two sets of electrical contacts to which the internal memory is connected. The two sets of contacts have different patterns, preferably in accordance with two different contact standards such as a memory card standard and that of the Universal Serial Bus (USB). One memory card standard that can be followed is that of the Secure Digital (SD) card. The cards can thus be used with different hosts that are compatible with one set of contacts but not the other. A sleeve that is moveable by hand may be included to expose the set of contacts being used.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is related to a non-provisional patent applicationentitled “Memory Card with Two Standard Sets of Contacts and a ContactCovering Mechanism,” filed concurrently herewith by Robert C. Miller etal.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the use and structure of removableelectronic circuit cards having different mechanical and/or electricalinterfaces, particularly those including mass re-programmablenon-volatile integrated circuit memory.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Electronic circuit cards, including non-volatile memory cards, have beencommercially implemented according to a number of well-known standards.Memory cards are used with personal computers, cellular telephones,personal digital assistants (PDAs), digital still cameras, digital moviecameras, portable audio players and other host electronic devices forthe storage of large amounts of data. Such cards usually contain are-programmable non-volatile semiconductor memory cell array along witha controller that controls operation of the memory cell array andinterfaces with a host to which the card connected. Several of the sametype of card may be interchanged in a host card slot designed to acceptthat type of card. However, the development of the many electronic cardstandards has created different types of cards that are incompatiblewith each other in various degrees. A card made according to onestandard is usually not useable with a host designed to operate with acard of another standard.

One such standard, the PC Card Standard, provides specifications forthree types of PC Cards. Originally released in 1990, the PC CardStandard now contemplates three forms of a rectangular card measuring85.6 mm. by 54.0 mm., having thicknesses of 3.3 mm. (Type I), 5.0 mm.(Type II) and 10.5 mm. (Type III). An electrical connector, whichengages pins of a slot in which the card is removably inserted, isprovided along a narrow edge of the card. PC Card slots are included incurrent notebook personal computers, as well as in other host equipment,particularly portable devices. The PC Card Standard is a product of thePersonal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA). Thecurrent PC Card specifications, “PC Card Standard Release 8.0,” datedApril 2001, is available from the PCMCIA.

In 1994, SanDisk Corporation, assignee of the present application,introduced the CompactFlash™ card (CF™ card) that is functionallycompatible with the PC Card but is much smaller. The CF™ card isrectangularly shaped with dimensions of 42.8 mm. by 36.4 mm. and athickness of 3.3 mm., and has a female pin connector along one edge. TheCF™ card is widely used with cameras for the storage of still videodata. A passive adapter card is available, in which the CF card fits,that then can be inserted into a PC Card slot of a host computer orother device. The controller within the CF card operates with the card'sflash memory to provide an ATA interface at its connector. That is, ahost with which a CF card is connected interfaces with the card as if itis a disk drive. Specifications for the CompactFlash card have beenestablished by the CompactFlash Association, “CF+ and CompactFlashSpecification Revision 2.0,” dated May 2003. An implementation of thesespecifications is described by SanDisk Corporation in a product manual“CompactFlash Memory Card Product Manual,” revision 10.1, datedSeptember 2003.

The SmartMedia™ card is about one-third the size of a PC Card, havingdimensions of 45.0 mm. by 37.0 mm. and is very thin at only 0.76 mm.thick. Contacts are provided in a defined pattern as areas on a surfaceof the card. Its specifications have been defined by the Solid StateFloppy Disk Card (SSFDC) Forum, which began in 1996. It contains flashmemory, particularly of the NAND type. The SmartMedia™ card is intendedfor use with portable electronic devices, particularly cameras and audiodevices, for storing large amounts of data. A memory controller isincluded either in the host device or in an adapter card in anotherformat such as one according to the PC Card standard. Physical andelectrical specifications for the SmartMedia™ card have been issued bythe SSFDC Forum.

Another non-volatile memory card is the MultiMediaCard (MMC™). Thephysical and electrical specifications for the MMC™ are given in “TheMultiMediaCard System Specification” that is updated and published fromtime-to-time by the MultiMediaCard Association (MMCA), including version3.1, dated June 2001. MMC products having varying storage capacity arecurrently available from SanDisk Corporation. The MMC card isrectangularly shaped with a size similar to that of a postage stamp. Thecard's dimensions are 32.0 mm. by 24.0 mm. and 1.4 mm. thick, with a rowof electrical contacts on a surface of the card along a narrow edge thatalso contains a cut-off corner. These products are described in a“MultiMediaCard Product Manual,” Revision 5.2, dated March 2003,published by SanDisk Corporation. Certain aspects of the electricaloperation of the MMC products are also described in U.S. Pat. No.6,279,114 and in patent application Ser. No. 09/186,064, filed Nov. 4,1998, both by applicants Thomas N. Toombs and Micky Holtzman, andassigned to SanDisk Corporation. The physical card structure and amethod of manufacturing it are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,040,622,assigned to SanDisk Corporation.

A modified version of the MMC™ card is the later Secure Digital (SD)card. The SD Card has the same rectangular size as the MMC™ card butwith an increased thickness (2.1 mm.) in order to accommodate anadditional memory chip when that is desired. A primary differencebetween these two cards is the inclusion in the SD card of securityfeatures for its use to store proprietary data such as that of music.Another difference between them is that the SD Card includes additionaldata contacts in order to enable faster data transfer between the cardand a host. The other contacts of the SD Card are the same as those ofthe MMC™ card in order that sockets designed to accept the SD Card canalso be made to accept the MMC™ card. A total of nine contacts arepositioned along a short edge of the card that contains a cutoff corner.This is described in patent application Ser. No. 09/641,023, filed byCedar et al. on Aug. 17, 2000, International Publication Number WO02/15020. The electrical interface with the SD card is further made tobe, for the most part, backward compatible with the MMC™ card, in orderthat few changes to the operation of the host need be made in order toaccommodate both types of cards. Complete specifications for the SD cardare available to member companies from the SD Association (SDA). Apublic document describing the physical and some electricalcharacteristics of the SD Card is available from the SDA: “SimplifiedVersion of: Part 1 Physical Layer Specification Version 1.01,” datedApr. 15, 2001.

More recently, a miniSD card has been specified by the SDA and iscommercially available. This card is smaller than the SD card butprovides much of the same functionality. It has a modified rectangularshape with dimensions of 21.5 mm. long, 20.0 mm. wide and 1.4 mm. thick.A total of eleven electrical contacts are positioned in a row on asurface of the card along one edge. The miniSD memory card is availablefrom SanDisk Corporation and described in the “SanDisk miniSD CardProduct Manual,” version 1.0, April 2003.

Another type of memory card is the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM), thespecifications of which are published by the European TelecommunicationsStandards Institute (ETSI). A portion of these specifications appear asGSM 11.11, a recent version being technical specification ETSI TS 100977 V8.3.0 (2000-08), entitled “Digital Cellular TelecommunicationsSystem (Phase 2+); Specification of the Subscriber IdentityModule—Mobile Equipment (SIM—ME) Interface,” (GSM 11.11 Version 8.3.0Release 1999). Two types of SIM cards are specified: ID-1 SIM andPlug-in SIM.

The ID-1 SIM card has a format and layout according to the ISO/EC 7810and 7816 standards of the International Organization for Standardizaton(ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). TheISO/IEC 7810 standard is entitled “Identification cards—Physicalcharacteristics,” second edition, August 1995. The ISO/IEC 7816 standardhas the general title of “Identification cards—Integrated Circuit(s)Cards with Contacts,” and consists of parts 1-10 that carry individualdates from 1994 through 2000. Copies of these standards are availablefrom the ISO/IEC in Geneva, Switzerland. The ID-1 SIM card is generallythe size of a credit card, having dimensions of 85.60 mm. by 53.98 mm.,with rounder corners, and a thickness of 0.76 mm. Such a card may haveonly memory or may also include a microprocessor, the latter often beingreferred to as a “Smart Card.” One application of a Smart Card is as adebit card where an initial credit balance is decreased every time it isused to purchase a product or a service.

The Plug-in SIM is a very small card, smaller than the MMC™ and SDcards. The GSM 11.11 specification referenced above calls for this cardto be a rectangle 25 mm. by 15 mm., with one corner cut off fororientation, and with the same thickness as the ID-1 SIM card. A primaryuse of the Plug-in SIM card is in mobile telephones and other devicesfor security against the theft and/or unauthorized use of the devices,in which case the card stores a security code personal to the device'sowner or user. In both types of SIM cards, eight electrical contacts(but with as few as five being used) are specified in the ISO/IEC 7816standard to be arranged on a surface of the card for contact by a hostreceptacle.

Sony Corporation has developed and commercialized a non-volatile memorycard, sold as the Memory Stick™, that has yet another set ofspecifications. Its shape is that of an elongated rectangle having 10electrical contacts in a row and individually recessed into a surfaceadjacent one of its short sides that also contains a cut out corner fororientation. The card's size is 50.0 mm. long by 21.5 mm. wide by 2.8mm. thick.

A more recent Memory Stick Duo card is smaller, having dimensions of31.0 mm. long by 20.0 mm. wide by 1.6 mm. thick. Ten contacts areprovided in a common recess in a surface and along a short side of thecard, which also contains an orienting notch. This smaller card is oftenused by insertion into a passive adapter having the shape of a MemoryStick card.

SanDisk Corporation has introduced an even smaller transportablenon-volatile TransFlash memory module in a modified rectangular shape,having dimensions of 15.0 mm. long by 11.0 mm. wide by 1.0 mm. thick.Eight electrical contact pads are provided in a row on a surfaceadjacent a short edge of the card. This card is useful for a variety ofapplications, particularly with portable devices, and is beingincorporated into multimedia camera cell telephones.

As is apparent from the foregoing summary of the primary electronic cardstandards, there are many differences in their physical characteristicsincluding size and shape, in the number, arrangement and structure ofelectrical contacts and in the electrical interface with a host systemthrough those contacts when the card is connected with a host.Electronic devices that use electronic cards are usually made to workwith only one type of card. Adaptors, both active and passive types,have been provided or proposed to allow some degree ofinterchangeability of electronic cards among such host devices. U.S.Pat. No. 6,266,724 of Harari et al. describes use of combinations ofmother and daughter memory cards.

Small, hand-held re-programmable non-volatile memories have also beenmade to interface with a computer or other type of host through aUniversal Serial Bus (USB) connector. These are especially convenientfor users who have one or more USB connectors available on the front oftheir personal computers, particularly if a receptacle slot for one ofthe above identified memory cards is not present. Such devices are alsovery useful for transferring data between various host systems that haveUSB receptacles, including portable devices. Mechanical and electricaldetails of the USB interface are provided by the “Universal Serial BusSpecification,” revision 2.0, dated Apr. 27, 2000. There are several USBflash drive products commercially available from SanDisk Corporationunder its trademark Cruzer. USB flash drives are typically larger andshaped differently than the memory cards described above.

Another, higher transfer rate interface that has become commonplace onpersonal computers and other host devices is specified by the followingstandard of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers(IEEE): “IEEE Standard for a High Performance Serial Bus,” document no.IEEE 1394-1995, as amended by document nos. IEEE 1394a-2000 and IEEE1394b-2002. A common commercial form of this bus interface is known asFireWire. Because of its higher speed, this interface is particularlyuseful for the transfer of large amounts of data to and from a computingdevice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to provide a portable non-volatile memory that is connectabledirectly with various types of host devices that include receptacleshaving various physical and electronic signal protocol and formatcharacteristics, two or more external sets of electrical contacts areprovided on a memory card system that conform to different recognizedmechanical and electrical standards and specifications. The internalmemory of the card system, most commonly flash memory, is operablethrough any of the sets of contacts alone with the appropriate signalprotocol. The standards that are implemented are preferably those thatwill allow the system to be used directly with a wide variety of hostdevices. Two sets of such contacts are most conveniently provided in asingle card system.

The example memory card systems described herein utilize one set ofcontacts and a signal protocol from one published memory card standard,such as that for the SD card, and the other set of contacts and a signalprotocol according another published standard, such as the USB standardor another that provide similar opportunities for use, such as the IEEE1394 standard. Many types of hosts include receptacle slots for SDcards, particularly cell phones, PDAs, MP-3 players, cameras and thelike, while USB receptacles are common in personal computers, notebookcomputers and the like. Such a combination of interfaces thereby allowsthe memory card system to be used directly with a wider variety of hostdevices than either one alone.

One form of the memory card system is a standard unitary memory cardwith a second set of contacts added, either with or without an extensionof the card. Another provides a sleeve in the shape of a standard memorycard with an internal portion being extendable by hand to expose thesecond set of contacts. Yet another in the shape of a standard memorycard allows a portion of its cover to be moved by hand to expose thesecond set of contacts for use. A further specific memory card systemuses an outer sleeve that is slid by hand between extreme positions toexpose one of two sets of contacts while covering the other. Anotherform of the memory card system includes a shell in the shape of onestandard memory card with an internal memory card unit containing thesecond set of contacts and being insertable into the shell to enable thestandard memory card function.

Additional aspects, advantages, features and details of the variousaspects of the present invention are included in the followingdescription of exemplary examples thereof, which description should betaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. All patents, patentapplications, articles, manuals, standards, specifications and otherpublications referenced herein are hereby incorporated herein by thisreference in their entirety for all purposes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B show front and side views, respectively, of a firstembodiment of a memory card having two sets of electrical contacts thatconform with different industry specifications;

FIG. 2 is an electronic block diagram of the memory system within thecard of FIGS. 1A and 1B;

FIG. 3 illustrates use of the card of FIGS. 1A, 1B and 2 with differenttypes of electronic equipment;

FIGS. 4A and 4B show front and side views, respectively, of a secondembodiment of a memory card having two sets of electrical contacts thatconform with different industry specifications;

FIGS. 5A-5C show a third memory card embodiment utilizing a memory cardinsert and a surrounding sleeve, FIG. 5A showing the memory card outsideof the sleeve, FIG. 5B showing the memory card positioned within thesleeve and FIG. 5C showing a side view of the card and sleeve of FIG.5B;

FIGS. 6A-6C show a fourth memory card embodiment utilizing a memory cardinsert and a surrounding sleeve, FIG. 6A showing the memory card outsideof the sleeve, FIG. 6B showing the memory card positioned within thesleeve and FIG. 6C showing a side view of the card and sleeve of FIG.6B;

FIG. 7 illustrates, in a fifth embodiment, a variation of the memorycard and sleeve of the fourth embodiment of FIGS. 6A-6C;

FIG. 8 shows an alternate structure for a portion of the foregoingmemory card embodiments;

FIG. 9A shows a sixth memory card embodiment with one form of sleeve inplace on the card in a protective position, and FIGS. 9B-9E illustratefour alternate versions of the sleeve of FIG. 9A when moved out of itsprotective position;

FIGS. 10A and 10B show a seventh memory card embodiment wherein a memorycard is moveable between two positions with respect to a sleeve in whichit is captured, the sleeve containing one set of contacts and the cardinsert the other, the two positions being shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B;

FIGS. 11A and 11B show an eighth memory card embodiment wherein a memorycard is moveable between two positions with respect to a sleeve in whichit is captured in order to expose one or the other of two sets ofcontacts on the card insert; and

FIGS. 12A-12B illustrate a specific structure for implementing theeighth memory card embodiment shown generally in FIGS. 11A and 11B,FIGS. 12A and 12B showing respective front and rear views of thestructure when the card is fully inserted into the sleeve and FIGS. 12Cand 12D showing respective front and rear views of the structure whenthe card extends out of the sleeve.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1A, a standard memory card 11, in this case the SDcard, has an extension 13 formed as part of the card to provide anadditional interface, in this case a USB compatible plug. According tothe SD Memory Card Specifications, nine electrical contacts 15-23 areprovided on bottom surfaces of grooves 25-32, the two contacts 22 and 23being placed in the one groove 32. The card is 24 mm. by 32 mm. in sizewith a thickness 35 of 2.1 mm. (see the side view of FIG. 1B).

In order to be compatible with the USB specifications, the addition 13has a minimum length of 12 mm. from an end 12 of the SD card portion andhas a width of 12.35 mm. Four electrical contacts 37-40 according to theUSB specifications are provided on the flat surface of the extension 13.Both sets of contacts 15-23 and 37-40 are positioned on the same side ofthe memory system card of FIG. 1A. The extension 13 has a thickness 43of 1.70 mm. in the region of the contacts 37-40, which is less than thatof the SD card portion 11. The thickness of the extension 13 ismaintained within the extremities of the SD card portion, for a distanceof at least 2 mm. from the edge 12 in a region 45 (FIG. 1A), so that itdoes not interfere with insertion of the structure into SD card slotsthat have a push-push connector, which requires pushing the card furtherinto the slot than normal in order to release it for removal. Thesurrounding shield of the flat extension 13 that is part of the USBspecification has been omitted.

Various of these details of the structure of FIGS. 1A and 1B cancertainly be changed so long as the contact structure at one endphysically conforms to one standard and the contact structure at theother end physically conforms to a second standard. One is a memory cardstandard since numerous hand held devices include receptacles for suchcards. A memory card standard other than for the SD card, such as one ofthe others described above, can be utilized instead. The second standardis one that is more commonly used on personal computers, notebookcomputers and other computing devices, in this case the USB standard.The IEEE 1394 standard could instead be used for the second standard,for example, but its use is currently not as widespread as the USB.Alternatively, both sets of contacts may conform to different memorycard standards. A third or more sets of contacts according to yet one ormore other standards could also be added but it may usually not bepractical to do so with such a small card system. And when a memory cardincludes a set of SD memory card contacts, as does the card of FIGS.1A-B, the card can also be accessed by a host through these contacts asa MMC card because of the relationship between the SD and MMC cardspecifications. This memory within this card is therefore accessiblethrough either of two physical sets of external electrical contacts withany one of three signal formats.

The electronic block diagram of FIG. 2 shows generally an example of theelectronic system within the structure of FIGS. 1A and 1B. Flash memory47 is accessed from the SD card contacts 15-23 through a controllercircuit 49, as currently exists in SD memory cards. What is added is aninterface circuit 51 for converting the SD signal protocols at the SDcontacts 15-23 into USB signal protocols at the USB contacts 37-40.Alternatively, a single controller can be used in place of the circuits49 and 51 to provide both signal protocols. If one or more additionalsets of contacts are provided, provision is made to interface theadditional set(s) of contacts with the signal protocols of theadditional standard(s).

Because of the two interfaces, the resulting memory system of FIGS. 1A,1B and 2 is useable with a wide variety of types of host devices. Thisis illustrated in FIG. 3. One set of contacts of such a memory card 53can be inserted into a memory card slot of a PDA 55, and the other setof contacts into a USB receptacle of a notebook computer 57. Addition ofthe second interface increases the convenience and portability of thememory card. This is an advantage for most all uses of memory cards butis of particular benefit in certain applications. For example, if thecard 53 stores the medical history and other health information of anindividual who is carrying the card at the time of an accident or suddenillness, it is more likely that emergency health care providers willhave access to a host device that can immediately read the storedinformation from the card through either of the two interfaces. The twointerfaces also increase the usefulness of a memory card fortransferring data between different types of hosts. For example, datacan be transferred by the card 53 of FIG. 3 between the PDA 55 and thecomputer 57, even though these hosts do not have a common cardinterface.

The second pattern of contacts can be added to most any standard memorycard. Another example is given in FIGS. 4A and 4B, respective front andside views of a miniSD card 14 with the USB connector portion 13 added.The miniSD card has eleven electrical contacts 46 mounted along one edgeon a surface portion that is slightly depressed from the front cardsurface. Only nine of these contacts are currently used, the same numberand with the same functions as the SD memory card. A thickness 42specified for the miniSD card is 1.4 mm., smaller than the 1.70 mm.thickness 43 of the USB plug extension.

A variation of the structure of the card described with respect to FIGS.1A-3, but with the same functionality and advantages, is illustrated inFIGS. 5A-5C. Instead of a single unitary card structure, a unitary card61 is inserted into a sleeve 63. Elements that are the same orfunctionally the same as those of the earlier figures are given the samereference numbers. The memory card 61 includes both the memory cardcontacts 15-23 and the USB contacts 37-40 on a common planar surface ofa unitary piece, such as results from injection molding. In plan view,the card 61 has the same dimensions as the card of FIG. 1A except thatits wider portion is made to be somewhat narrower than the portion ofthe card of FIG. 1A so that it can be inserted into the sleeve 63 thathas outer dimensions conforming to the SD card standard. The card 61 isshown to be so inserted into the sleeve 63 in FIG. 5B. The sleeve 63includes the openings 25-32 at an otherwise closed end through which thecontacts 15-23 are accessible when the card 61 is inserted into thesleeve 63, as shown in FIG. 5B. The sleeve 63 also contains an openingat its end opposite the openings 25-32, through which the card 61 isinserted and removed. When the card 61, which contains the memory andinterface circuits of FIG. 2, is to be inserted into a SD memory cardreceptacle, it is first inserted into the sleeve 63, as shown in FIG.5B. The end of the combination containing the contacts 15-23 is insertedinto the SD memory card slot. When the card 61 is to be inserted into aUSB receptacle, this can be done with or without the sleeve 63 in place.

The thicknesses of the card 61 and the sleeve 63 relative to each otherare shown in the side view of FIG. 5C. An outside thickness 65 of thesleeve 63 conforms to the memory card specifications, in this case thatof the SD card, namely 2.1 mm. In order to fit within the sleeve 63, atleast the portion of the card 61 that fits within the sleeve, most ofthe card, is made to have a thickness 67 that is about equal to or lessthan the inside dimension of the sleeve. The card 61 is then easilyinserted into the sleeve 63 and removed from it by hand. A thicknessthat provides a somewhat tight fit between the two holds them togetherso that they do not easily separate. Alternatively, a push-pushconnector (not shown) may be included in the sleeve to positively holdthem together but releasing the card in response to the card beingpushed a distance into the sleeve. As a further alternative, a detentmechanism (not shown), such as small indentations on opposite sides ofthe memory card 61 and cooperatively shaped and positioned bumps on theinside of the sidewalls of the sleeve 63, can alternatively be employed.The detent is engaged and disengaged by sufficient hand force wheninserting the card 61 into, or removing it from, the sleeve 63. With useof a push-push, detent or other positive holding mechanism, the memorycard thickness 67 can be made as small as the memory card technologyallows, such as 1 mm., since the relative thicknesses of the card 61 andsleeve 63 need not be controlled to hold the two together. Front andrear walls of the sleeve 63 are preferably planar, except for the areaincluding the openings 25-32. Similarly, the card 61 preferably hasparallel planar front and rear surfaces except for the region of thesecond set of contacts 37-40, where the thickness is made to conform tothe specifications for those contacts. In the case of a USB connector,the dimensions of the extension containing the contacts 37-40 are asdescribed for the extension 13 of FIGS. 1A and 1B, the thickness 69being 1.70 mm.

A card having a contact pattern other than that of the SD card mayalternately be used with a separate sleeve, following that of FIGS.5A-C. The Memory Stick memory card is particularly adaptable toseparation into an inner card and outer sleeve since it, as does the SDcard, utilizes slots along a narrow edge in which the exposed electricalcontacts are recessed. For other memory cards that do not have theircontacts recessed, the sleeve is added with, of course, openings throughone wall over the contacts of the inner card when fully inserted.

A modification of the memory system of FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C isillustrated in respective FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C. Instead of the memorycard containing the contacts that become accessible though openings inthe sleeve when the card is inserted into it, a cooperatively shapedsleeve 71 and card 73 have sets 75-83 and 85-93 of contacts,respectively, that make electrical contact when the card is insertedinto the sleeve. The memory card contacts 15-23 are attached to thesleeve 71. A small printed circuit board is positioned within thesleeve, attached to an inner side of its top surface, that containscontacts 75-83 facing downward into the sleeve and including conductivetraces (shown as dashed lines) connecting each of these contacts with arespective one of the memory card contacts 15-23. When the card 73,which is shorter than the card 61 of FIG. 5A, is inserted into thesleeve 71, the card contacts 85-93 make physical contact with respectiveones of the sleeve contacts 75-83. The positioning of these contactsneed not follow any particular card standard.

FIG. 7 shows a variation of the embodiment of FIGS. 6A-C. Instead of theinserted card 73 configured as shown in FIGS. 6A-C, the card of FIGS.4A-B is used as the insert. A sleeve 71* is similar to the sleeve 71,the primary difference being that the internal contacts for contactingan inserted card are positioned in the pattern of the miniSD cardcontacts 46. When the memory card is inserted into the sleeve 71*, eachof the nine active miniSD card contacts 46 is electrically connectedwithin the sleeve 71* with an appropriate one of the SD card contacts15-23. As with the card 73, the card insert of FIG. 7 is removable fromthe sleeve 73*.

Although the examples of FIGS. 6A-C and 7 utilize a shell and itscontacts that conform to the SD memory card specifications, they couldfollow another of the memory card standards instead. Use of the MemoryStick or miniSD standards are among the possibilities.

A possible modification to the USB connector portion of the embodimentsof FIGS. 1A-B, 4A-B, 5A-C, 6A-C and 7 is illustrated in FIG. 8. Ratherthan just providing a connector with a planar shape, one or both rails97 and 99 are added as a key to prevent the plug from being insertedinto a USB receptacle up side down and thus fail to make electricalcontact. When properly inserted, the rails 97 and 99 fit on oppositesides of a substrate in the USB receptacle that carries the contacts. Ifinverted, the plug of FIG. 8 will not fit into the USB receptacle. Sincethe rails 97 and 99 are normally too thick to fit into the usual memorycard receptacle slot, they positioned a distance 101 (such as 2.0 mm. ormore) from an edge of the memory card to which the plug is attached sothat they do not limit pushing the card further into the memory cardslot to release it from a push-push connector.

FIGS. 9A-9E illustrate several variations of another embodiment of thememory card system. Rather than extending the dimensions of a standardmemory card to accommodate the second connector, the entire structure ismaintained within the footprint of the standard memory card. FIG. 9Ashows the combination within the outer 24 mm. by 32 mm. dimensions ofthe SD card, as an example. A cap 103, which is removable andre-attachable by a hand operated frictional fit, protects the USBcontacts 37-40 when the unit is being used as a SD memory card. The cap103 may be closed at its exposed end but is open at the end into whichthe USB connector plug is inserted. The view FIG. 9B shows the structurewith this cap removed. In the configuration of FIG. 9A, the unit appearsand is used like any standard SD memory card. When the cap 103 isremoved (FIG. 9B), the unit may be inserted into a USB receptacle. Theamount of space devoted to the memory and other integrated circuits is,of course, reduced since the USB connector occupies a portion of thelength of the standard SD card instead. Otherwise, the structure is asdescribed with respect to FIGS. 1A-B. Or the memory card may be aseparate piece that fits within a sleeve, according to the embodiment ofFIGS. 5A-C. The separate memory card and sleeve may, as a furtheralternative, contain mating electrical contacts in the manner of theembodiment of FIGS. 6A-C.

Since the removable cap 103 could become lost in use, it is preferableto retain an attachment between it and at least the outer shell orsleeve of the unit when the USB connector is being used. FIG. 9Cillustrates one way to do this with a slideable cover 103′. The exposedend of the cap 103 (FIG. 9A) is opened to form the cover 103′ that isslid by hand between the position shown in FIG. 9C, wherein the USBconnector is exposed for use, and a second position where the cover 103′overlies the USB contacts 37-40, as is shown for the cap 103 in FIG. 9A.

Another manner of attachment is illustrated in FIG. 9D, where a cap 103″is attached by a hinge 105 to the main card body at its end from whichthe extension containing the contacts 37-40 extends. This allows the cap103″ to be swung out of the way when the card is to be inserted into aUSB receptacle, the position shown in FIG. 9D. When pivoted 180 degreesabout the hinge 105 by hand in a counterclockwise direction, the unitwill appear as shown in FIG. 9A. The rotation occurs about an axis thatis perpendicular to the broad surfaces of the card. In a variation onthe structure of FIG. 9D, the cap is split into two portions that areseparately pivoted about respective hinges 105 and 107.

Rather than having a portion of the outer shell or sleeve that is movedout of the way of the USB connector, as illustrated in FIGS. 9A-E, ashell with the shape of a standard memory card may have a memory cardretained therein that is moveable by hand between two extreme positionswith respect to the shell. In one position, the memory card is totallywithin the shell to enable the unit to be used as a memory card, and inthe other position the card is slid along the shell to extend the USBconnector out of the shell to enable insertion into a USB receptacle.Two alternate ways of accomplishing this are shown in FIGS. 10A-B and11A-B.

The implementation of FIGS. 10A-B is like that described above withrespect to FIGS. 6A-C, except that an internal card 73′ is made shorterthan the card 73 in order to fit entirely within a shell 71′ in oneposition (FIG. 10A) and to be retained within the shell 71′ by amechanical stop at its end through which the second connector extendswhen the card is slid along the shell into the second position (FIG.10B). This mechanical stop can be provided by restricting the size ofthe end opening in the shell to allow the second connector extension topass through while being too small for the wider main portion of thememory card to pass. A portion of the backside of the shell 71′ adjacentthis end may optionally be removed (not shown) for a distance from theend in order to facilitate moving and/or holding of the card by hand.The card 73′ can be prevented from moving back into the shell 71′ fromthe position shown in FIG. 10B by use of an internal detent mechanism(not shown) that can be overridden by hand when the user desires to movethe card 73′ back into the shell 71′. The SD memory card and USBspecifications are also implemented in this example but, as with theother examples, is not limited to this particular combination.

Similarly, the memory card system of FIGS. 11A-B is like that describedwith respect to FIGS. 5A-C, except that an internal card 61′ is madeshorter than the card 61 in order to fit entirely within a shell 63′ inone position (FIG. 11A) and to be retained within the shell 63′ by amechanical stop at its end through which the second connector extendswhen the card is slid along the shell into the second position (FIG.11B). The shell 63′, in this example, also has outer dimensionsaccording to the SD memory card standard and the second set of contactsshown on the card follow the USB standard. Appropriate mechanicaltechniques may be used to retain the card 61′ in the two extremepositions of FIGS. 11A and 11B but allow this retention to be overcomeby hand to slide the shell 63′ with respect to the card 61′.

In the two examples of FIGS. 10A-B and 11A-B, the shell is slid withrespect to the internal memory card to expose one of the sets ofcontacts while covering and protecting the other. As with the otherembodiments described herein, a single side of the internal memory cardcarries the two sets of external electrical contacts for convenience butthe two sets could be positioned on opposite sides of the card if therewas a reason to do so.

FIGS. 12A-D show perspective views of a more detailed implementation ofthe embodiment of FIGS. 11A-B. A shell 111 having an external shape andother physical characteristics of a memory card according to the SD cardstandard has a memory card 113 contained within it. In FIGS. 12A-B, thecard 113 is shown fully inserted into the shell. A lip 115 at the end ofa resilient wall portion 117 holds the card 113 in place. Contacts 15-23on the card 113 are, in this position, accessible through openings 25-32of the shell 111. The signals at the contacts 15-23 are according to theSD memory card specifications. The unit can be inserted into a SD memorycard receptacle of a host or other device that may be connected to ahost, the end containing the contacts 15-23 being inserted first.

In FIGS. 12C-D, the memory card 113 has been withdrawn from the shell111 to expose the USB connector plug and its contacts 37-40. At the sametime, the other set of contacts 15-23 has been withdrawn into the sleeveand are thereby covered by it. The card 113 is released from the shell111 by flexing the resilient wall portion 117 by hand away from the cardto remove the lip 115 from its path. When removed, the card 113 isprevented from being separated from the shell 111 by tabs 119 and 121 onthe end of the shell. Removal of the relatively narrow USB connectorplug from the shell 111 is stopped when the wider portion of the card113 abuts the shell tabs 119 and 121, as best seen from FIG. 12D. Aportion of the backside of the shell 111 adjacent this end may beremoved, as shown, in order to facilitate manipulation of the card 113by hand. An internal detent mechanism (not shown) can be used to preventthe card 113 from inadvertently moving back into the shell 111. The userovercomes this retention when pushing the card 113 back into the shell111. Alternatively, the card 113 can be held by hand in its extendedposition by the user gripping it through the backside opening of theshell 111 when inserting the extended USB plug into a USB receptacle.

Although the examples of FIGS. 11A-B and 12A-C utilize a shell and itscontacts that conform to the SD memory card specifications, they couldfollow another of the memory card standards instead. Use of the MemoryStick or miniSD standards are among the possibilities. And althoughthese examples show that the second set of contacts follows the USBspecifications, another standard memory card or other data transferinterface could be used instead.

Although the various aspects of the present invention have beendescribed with respect to several exemplary embodiments and variationsthereof, it will be understood that the invention is entitled toprotection within the full scope of the appended claims.

1. A memory card system, comprising: an enclosed electronic circuit cardhaving first and second sets of electrical contacts with differentcontact patterns positioned apart from each other such that they matewith a respective one of first and second mating receptacles but not theother, at least the first set of contacts being carried by an outsidesurface of the card, a re-programmable non-volatile memory system withinthe card and operably connected to transfer data between the memory andoutside of the card with different signal protocols through either ofthe first or second sets of contacts without use of the other, and acover carried by the card and moveable by hand between at least firstand second positions with respect to the card, the first set of contactsbeing covered when the cover is in the first position and exposed forinsertion into the first mating receptacle when the cover is in thesecond position.
 2. The memory card system of claim 1, wherein the firstset of contacts has a contact pattern and signal protocol therethroughthat follows a USB standard.
 3. The memory card system of claim 2,wherein the second set of contacts has a contact pattern and signalprotocol therethrough that follows a memory card standard.
 4. The memorycard system of claim 3, wherein the memory card standard is a SD cardstandard.
 5. The memory card system of claim 2, wherein the second setof contacts is also carried by an outside surface of the card.
 6. Thememory card system of claim 5, wherein the cover is slideable betweenits first and second positions.
 7. The memory card system of claim 6,wherein the second set of contacts is covered when the cover is in thesecond position.
 8. The memory card system of claim 6, wherein thesecond set of contacts is not covered when the cover is in the secondposition.
 9. The memory card system of claim 1, wherein the cover isconnected with the card by a hinge about which the cover is rotatedbetween its first and second positions.
 10. The memory card system ofclaim 9, wherein the second set of contacts are not covered when thecover is in the second position.
 11. The memory card system of claim 1,wherein the cover includes two parts that are each connected with thecard by a hinge about which the cover part is rotated between the firstand second positions of the cover, the hinges being spaced apart acrossthe card.
 12. The memory card system of claim 11, wherein the second setof contacts are not covered when the cover is in the second position.13. A memory card system, comprising: an enclosed electronic circuitcard having first and second sets of electrical contacts positioned onoutside surface areas thereof with different contact patterns, the firstand second sets of electrical contacts being spaced apart a distance inone direction along the card, a re-programmable non-volatile memorysystem within the card and operably connected to transfer data betweenthe memory and outside of the card through either of the first or secondsets of contacts without use of the other, and a sleeve surrounding thecard in a manner to be slid by hand in said one direction relative tothe card between a first position exposing the first set of contactswhile covering the second set of contacts and a second position exposingthe second set of contacts while covering the first set of contacts. 14.The memory system of claim 13, wherein the sleeve and the card haverelative dimensions so that the card fits within a footprint of thesleeve when the sleeve is in the first position.
 15. The memory systemof claim 14, wherein the sleeve includes one or more aperturespositioned to expose the first set of contacts therethrough when thesleeve is in the first position.
 16. The memory system of claim 14,wherein the sleeve has an open portion of an end through which the cardextends to expose the second set of contacts outside the footprint ofthe sleeve when the sleeve is in the second position.
 17. The memorysystem of claim 15, wherein the sleeve has an open portion of an endthrough which the card extends to expose the second set of contactsoutside the footprint of the sleeve when the sleeve is in the secondposition.
 18. The memory system of claim 17, wherein the pattern of thefirst set of contacts is arranged in accordance with a published memorycard standard and the second set of contacts is arranged in accordancewith a published USB connector standard.
 19. The memory system of claim18, wherein the pattern of the first set of contacts is arranged inaccordance with the SD card standard and the footprint of the sleeve hasdimensions in accordance with the SD card standard.
 20. The memorysystem of claim 13, wherein the pattern of the first set of contacts isarranged in accordance with a published memory card standard and thesecond set of contacts is arranged in accordance with a published USBconnector standard.
 21. The memory system of claim 20, wherein thepattern of the first set of contacts is arranged in accordance with theSD card standard.
 22. The memory system of claim 17, wherein the sleevecontains wall segments adjacent the open portion of the end that definesthe second position of the sleeve relative to the circuit card.
 23. Thememory system of claim 22, wherein the first and second sets of contactsare positioned on a common side of the circuit card, and wherein thesleeve includes an open region adjacent the end containing the openportion that exposes a portion of an opposite side of the circuit card.24. The memory system of claim 17, wherein an end of the sleeve oppositeto the end containing the open portion includes a stop that defines thefirst position of the sleeve relative to the circuit card.
 25. A memorycard system, comprising: an enclosed electronic circuit card havingfirst and second spaced apart sets of external surface electricalcontacts having different arrangements of contacts, a re-programmablenon-volatile memory system within the card and operably connected totransfer data between the memory and outside of the card through eitherof the first or second sets of contacts, a sleeve surrounding the cardin a manner allowing the card to be slid by hand between at least afirst position wherein substantially all of the card is positionedwithin the sleeve and a second position wherein the card is partiallyremoved through an end opening of the sleeve to expose a surface portionthereof containing the first set of contacts, one or more openingsthrough the sleeve in positions that expose the second set of contactstherethrough when the card is in the first position, and wherein thefirst set of contacts is covered by the sleeve when the card is in thefirst position and the second set of contacts are covered by the sleevewhen the card is in the second position.
 26. The system of claim 25,wherein the first and second sets of contacts follow respective firstand second different published standards.
 27. The system of claim 26,wherein the first published standard is that of the Universal Serial Bus(USB).
 28. The system of claim 27, wherein the second published standardis that of the Secure Digital (SD) memory card.
 29. The system of claim25, wherein the second set of contacts is arranged along an edge of thecard and the one or more openings include a plurality of openings thatexpose the second set of contacts.
 30. The system of claim 25, whereinthe surface portion of the card containing the first set of contacts isa rectangle having a width less than that of other portions of the card.31. The system of claim 25, wherein the sleeve and the card in the firstposition together have a size and shape substantially according to thepublished standard of the Secure Digital (SD) memory card.
 32. Thesystem of claim 25, wherein a thickness of the card in the surfaceportion containing the first set of contacts is greater than a thicknessof the card in a portion containing the second set of contacts.
 33. Thesystem of claim 25, wherein the first and second sets of contacts arepositioned on one side of the card on a common planar surface.
 34. Thesystem of claim 25, wherein the first and second sets of contacts arepositioned on one side of the card, and the sleeve has an openingadjacent its said end opening on a side opposite to the one or moreopenings that expose the second set of contacts in order to expose aportion of an opposite side of the card.
 35. The system of claim 25,wherein the sleeve further includes a resilient sidewall portion with alip positioned at the end opening of the sleeve that engages an end ofthe card when the card in the first position within the sleeve and holdsthe card in the first position.
 36. An enclosed memory card, comprising:a first portion having a shape, a first thickness and a first set ofcontacts positioned on an outside surface thereof, all according to apublished card standard, a second portion rigidly connected to the firstportion and having a rectangular shape, a second set of contactspositioned on an outside surface thereof and a second thickness in atleast a region carrying the second set of contacts, all according to aUSB plug standard, wherein the second thickness is greater than thefirst thickness, and the first and second sets of contacts arepositioned on a common side of the card, re-programmable non-volatilememory within the card, and electronic circuits within the card that areconnected to the non-volatile memory to control its operation, connectedto the first set of contacts to operate with a signal protocol accordingto the published card standard and connected to the second set ofcontacts to operate with a signal protocol according to the USBstandard.
 37. The memory card according to claim 36, wherein the outsidesurfaces of the first and second portions are parts of a planar surfaceon the common side of the card.
 38. The memory card according to claim36, wherein the published card standard is that of a SD card.
 39. Amemory card system, comprising: a retangularly shaped sleeve having afirst set of contacts along a first edge thereof with a patternaccording to a published memory card standard and an opening along asecond edge thereof opposite to the first edge, an enclosed circuit cardshaped for a first end to be inserted into the sleeve through theopening thereof to abut a physical stop within the sleeve, wherein aportion of the card extends out of the opening of the sleeve with ashape and a second set of contacts according to a USB plug standard,mating contacts within the sleeve and on the card that connect the cardwith the first set of contacts when the card is inserted into the sleevewith the first end of the card abutting the physical stop within thesleeve, a re-programmable non-volatile memory within the card, andelectronic circuits within the card that are connected to thenon-volatile memory to control its operation, connected to the matingcontacts of the card to operate with a signal protocol according to thepublished card standard and connected to the second set of contacts tooperate with a signal protocol according to the USB standard.
 40. Thememory card according to claim 39, wherein the published card standardis that of a SD card.
 41. A method of transferring data between a firsthost having a first receptacle for receiving and connecting with a firstset of circuit card contacts according to a first circuit card publishedstandard and a second host having a second receptacle for receiving andconnecting with a second set of circuit contacts according to a secondcircuit card published standard, wherein the first and second sets ofcontacts are physically incompatible with each other and the formats ofat least some of the signals communicated therethrough are alsoincompatible with each other, comprising: providing a memory circuitcard containing re-programmable non-volatile memory that is accessiblefor transfer of data therewith through either of the first and secondsets of circuit card contacts externally positioned thereon at spacedapart locations, wherein a cover exists over the first set of memorycircuit card contacts, removing the cover from the first set of memorycircuit card contacts, thereafter inserting the first set of memorycircuit card contacts into the first receptacle of the first host,thereafter transferring data from the first host into the memory of thememory circuit card through the first set of memory circuit cardcontacts, thereafter removing the first set of memory circuit cardcontacts from the first host, thereafter replacing the cover over thefirst set of memory circuit card contacts, thereafter inserting thesecond set of memory circuit card contacts into the second receptacle ofthe second host, and thereafter transferring the data from the memory ofthe memory circuit card into the second host through the second set ofmemory circuit card contacts.